USDA Awards More Than $11 Million to Support U.S Dairy Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is awarding more than $11 million in grant funding to support dairy businesses and producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products.

This year’s funds are being awarded to the four current DBI Initiatives at California State University, Fresno; the University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets; and the University of Wisconsin.

The initiatives will use the funding to provide technical assistance and subaward funds to dairy farmers and businesses across their regions, supporting them with business plan development, marketing and branding, as well as increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products, said USDA.

“This funding through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives makes important investments in the domestic dairy industry, furthering USDA’s efforts to ensure Americans have access to affordable wholesome U.S. dairy products,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins.

Dairy farmers and businesses interested in the program must contact the appropriate initiative to be considered for direct technical assistance or a subaward. For more information, visit the AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives webpage.